1. < Lung Health
Profile picture for jgreg1954

Phrenic Nerve damage and paralyzed diaphragm: Anyone else have this?

Posted by jgreg1954 @jgreg1954, Nov 28, 2017

Phrenic nerve on the right side was destroyed due to radiation for breast cancer. Diaphragm is now paralyzed & taking away lung capacity. Anyone else experience this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

Profile picture for nanacris
nanacris | @nanacris | Jul 9, 2025

Schwanoma was a benign tumor not a Sonoma;)

REPLY
Profile picture for nanacris
nanacris | @nanacris | Jul 10, 2025

The assumption is during my schwanoma brachial plexus surgery 35 years ago they nicked my phrenic nerve which resulted in a slightly paralyzed diaphragm on right side.
Overall, my oxygen level seem to be good except when I sleep on my left side which causes deoxidation. I also get winded walking uphill and swimming is not really possible. Inhalation seems to be OK but I don’t think my lungs exhale well and my CO2 levels tend to rise which gives me shortness of breath. Has anyone gotten pulmonary exercises for this? I tried CPAP but had a very difficult time with it and it did not appear to help ..The thing that helps most is sleeping on the side where my diaphragm is weakest .
Has anyone had the surgery to strengthen the diagram?

REPLY
Profile picture for rhonda1215
rhonda1215 | @rhonda1215 | 2 days ago
In reply to @alison2 "Hi everyone I am also going through this but my injury was due to an ablation..." + (show)
Profile picture for alison2 @alison2

Hi everyone I am also going through this but my injury was due to an ablation and the doctor hit the phrenic nerve. there is a doctor in New Jersey who is doing a surgery to repair the nerve I’m not sure if you Google the phrenic nerve and New Jersey doctor it will come up. There is also a surgery where they can staple your diaphragm down but it’s very invasive. I have been told I need to wait at least a year to see if it is permanent, that normally it goes away within a year. crossing my fingers!!

Jump to this post

@alison2 I’m going through the same thing and am still in hospital I had an ablation 3 weeks ago Breathing is very hard and I’m told recovery is months I’m not keen on any surgery I am in Australia

REPLY
Profile picture for dlfreed01
dlfreed01 | @dlfreed01 | 9 hours ago

I had an epidural in my neck and they damaged the phrenic nerve over a year ago. As a result, my left diaphragm is paralyzed. I'm having surgery 2/4.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for rhonda1215
rhonda1215 | @rhonda1215 | 9 hours ago
In reply to @dlfreed01 "I had an epidural in my neck and they damaged the phrenic nerve over a year..." + (show)
Profile picture for dlfreed01 @dlfreed01

I had an epidural in my neck and they damaged the phrenic nerve over a year ago. As a result, my left diaphragm is paralyzed. I'm having surgery 2/4.

Jump to this post

@dlfreed01 Hi what does the surgery consist of?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.